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d against others of their own species。〃
〃That's not true！〃 Sera now threw back； suddenly materializing in the chamber。 〃Ariel's right； Regis。 Forgive me； please； but I too have begun to doubt whether we are any better than they are。〃 She looked briefly at Lancer before continuing。 〃You say this species is guilty of murder and enslavement； but how is that any different from what we're doing to this planet？〃
〃So； Sera； you and your sister have been turned against us。〃
Sera； Lancer thought to himself； watching her。
Ariel was now gesturing toward the Humans。 〃Look at them； Regis。 They're not。。。animals or barbarians。 They are a brave and noble people trying to protect what is rightfully theirs； just as we tried to do。〃 She offered Scott an imploring look； hoping he would understand and forgive her。 Something in his eye told her he would。
Corg had by now joined them also； not in the flesh like Sera but via the instrumentality sphere； where his image appeared five times life size。
〃Have all of you gone mad？〃 he shouted。 〃How did these Humans gain entrance to the hive？！ Sera； remove them at once！〃
Sera thrust out her chin。 〃I was not aware that I had to obey your orders； Corg。〃
He scowled at her。 〃Your contact with the rebels has made you weak and spineless。〃
〃And it has made a monster out of you；〃 she returned。 〃Consumed by vengeance and evil passions。 You are a child of shadow； Corg； not the Humans。〃
〃What are you saying？〃 he bellowed。 〃This pathetic species you've bee so fond of cannot be allowed to stand in the way of our future。 Have you forgotten what we have been called to do？〃
〃If you keep fighting； there won't be a future for any of us；〃 Lancer said from the floor of the chamber。
Corg dismissed the threat without a word。 〃Enough。 I am called to battle…where my duty lies！〃
〃I've got to stop that lunatic！〃 Scott yelled； ignoring Marlene's pleas for him to wait and racing for the cockpit of his fighter。
The Alpha gave chase to the alien ship through that same netherworld of moving cells Rand and Rook had navigated earlier。 I've got you now！ Scott thought； training his weapons on Corg even before the two of them had left the hive。 But the XT swung his craft around and loosed a stream of discs before Scott could get off his shot； and an instant later they were outside； dogfighting in the skies over those recently altered autumnal forests。 Red…tipped heat…seekers and anni discs cut through the air as the two aces put their ships through their paces； dodging and juking； climbing and dropping against each other。
Views of the battle were displayed inside the chamber； where the rest of the freedom fighters were still gathered； along with Ariel and Sera。
〃I don't like just standing around and watching this；〃 Rand told Rook。 〃What do you say； do we stay here or go out there and help him？〃
〃I don't know anymore； Rand。 I'm all confused。。。 〃
All at once the sphere's images de…rezzed； only to be replaced by space views of the approaching Expeditionary fleet。
The Regis's lapis eyes narrowed。 〃No！ They have e！ The dark tides of the shadow have e to engulf us again！〃
〃It's the rest of Hunter's fleet！〃
〃Wow！ I didn't expect so many ships！〃
〃Well； that does it；〃 Lancer said softly； filled up with a sudden despair。 〃Any hope of a peaceful settlement has just gone down the drain。〃
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Throw water on her！ Throw water on her！
Remark attributed to Rand （unconfirmed） on seeing the Invid Regis for the first time
Most of Earth's population was unaware of the Expeditionary Fleet's arrival； let alone of the Olympian battle that was taking place in the skies above Reflex Point。 But even as far off as the remote areas of the Southlands； people knew something was up。 The Invid were suddenly taking their leave…from cities； towns； munications outposts； and Protoculture farms； a steady stream of Troopers and Pincer units； all headed north for some unknown purpose。
Meanwhile； in one small section of those embattled northern skies； a green and orange Invid mand ship was going one on one with a Veritech； each oblivious to the ferocious fighting going on around them； as though these two had been chosen representative batants。 And in some ways they had。。。
For Corg； the alien prince； there was no thought of defeat； only the glory of victory。 Showing a malicious grin； he raised the right cannon arm of his ship and loosed a bolt of red death at the approaching fighter。
But Scott was well prepared for it and already thinking the Beta through an avoidance roll； he returned two bursts to Corg's one； reconfiguring to Battloid mode as the VT came full circle。
Corg darted left and right； almost playfully； then threw his ship into a frontal assault； even as the Battloid's rifle/cannon continued to pour energy his way。 The two crafts collided and grappled in midair； thrusters keeping them aloft while they flailed at each other with armored fists。 Scott tried to bring the cannon down on the ship's crown； but Corg parried the blow and punished the VT with body blows。 Scott twisted and hurled his opponent way； once again he brought the cannon into play； and once again Corg seemed to laugh off the attempts。
The alien's voice seethed over the tac net： 〃Your pitiful attempts make your defeat at my hands all the more pleasurable！〃
Scott snorted。 〃I'll be satisfied with boring you to death； then！〃
The Battloid had the cannon in both hands now； the first volley missed； and the second impacted harmlessly against the mand ship's crown。 In response Corg loosed a flock of missiles from his ship's shoulder…mounted racks； and Scott met the stakes with an equal number of his own。 The projectiles destroyed themselves in midair between the two ships； but Corg had followed his missiles in； emerging from the smoke and bringing the metalshod foot of his ship against the VT's control modules before Scott had an opportunity to take evasive action。 Electrical discharges snapped around the inside of the Beta's cockpit like summer lightning as circuits fried and systems shorted out。 Scott sat defenseless in the seat as shock poured through his armor and the displays cried out last warnings。 Corg's ship was behind him now； cannon raised。 Scott thought he would feel the final blow against the Battloid's back； but Corg played his hand for insult instead。 He targeted and zapped the Beta's thrusters； incapacitating the ship。
The Battloid menced a slow facedown descent； trailing thick smoke from its leg and neck。。。
Corg watched it for a moment； laughing out loud in his cockpit； then turned to deal with the half dozen fighters that had suddenly appeared to avenge their mander。
〃How quaint；〃 he sniggered to himself。
He positioned himself central to their assault and let them take their best shots； which he avoided with ease。 Then； as they came in at him； he showed his teeth and counterattacked； taking out the first as it swooped past him； then a second； third； and fourth as they strived to ensnare him。
At the same time； Corg's Troopers were taking the battle to the edge of space。 The so…called Mollusk Carriers and squadrons of Pincer units a thousand strong had moved in to engage the m